Attention Older Generation Fam! Brush Up on Your Millennial Lingo

If you still think that “spilling the tea” means you’ll have to clean up spilled tea later, you’re either above the age of 35 or an old soul trapped in a 20-year-old’s body.

Multi-generational conversations can become muddled or turn into a UN summit brouhaha, thanks to millennials casually throwing in slang words that are odd, interesting, or plain confusing. It’s normal to hear the terms clap back, fam, or on fleek when you’re talking to gen Y and other younger generations.

I’m part of the millennial fam (family) and these slang words and phrases are part of my daily conversations.

I use them heavily when I’m talking to my friends or fangirling on my Twitter account. But when it comes to my parents or the titos and titas I regularly encounter, I steer clear of the gen Y-speak so as not to confuse them.

1. “Bruh”

Another way of calling someone a “bro.” You’d use this slang to be dramatic during a casual conversation. You can also use it to yell in exasperation, when someone cuts you in line at your favorite bubble tea stall, for example.

4. “Sorry Not Sorry.”

You tell someone you’re sorry not sorry when you want to make it clear that you’re very un-remorseful about something. It’s a helpful phrase when you wish to express how confident you are that it’s definitely not your fault.

Example: “It’s not my fault she didn’t say ‘yes’ to him first. Sorry not sorry, sis.”

5.“Savage.”

You’ve reached the echelon of “witty comebacks” when someone yells this while you’re having it out with someone GIF from Giphy

Another personal favorite, savage refers to when someone does something outrageously hilarious or cool. It’s a synonym of another millennial term, “burn.” Gen Y use savage to praise someone for their witty comeback.

Example:

“Sorry? I don’t speak bullshit.”

“Bruh, you savage.”

6. “Spill the tea.”

Time to tell everything you know about some juicy bit of drama GIF from Giphy

Time to tell everything you know about some juicy bit of drama GIF from Giphy

No, this does not mean wasting a good cup of tea. TEA in millennial speak is slang for a situation, gossip, or news. You “spill the tea” when you share the juicy stories about something or someone. Think of it this way: it’s a new way of saying “What is the drama today?”

Example: “Did you hear about the Jordyn Woods incident? TEA WAS SPILLED, FAM!”

8. “Thirsty.”

You’re craving something, but it’s not a cold beverage. You want that cutie on Instagram, your gym crush, or one of the Hemsworth brothers. Thirsty can also be a self-deprecating manner; if you want something so much that you’re “too thirsty,” it’s time to chill, fam.